Treat Advanced Gum Disease if You Want to Save Your Teeth

Posted on 5/20/2017 by Todd Jorgenson

Advanced gum disease is known is periodontitis, and it is a serious infection that damages the soft tissues while destroying the bone that supports the teeth. While gum disease is no longer reversible at this stage, there are treatment options available, and you'll need to pursue one if you want to save your teeth.

Treating Advanced Gum Disease without Surgery

If you have advanced gum disease, your periodontist will likely try some of the least invasive treatment options available first, which will include some of these nonsurgical treatments:

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Antibiotics. If you have a severe infection, your dentist may use antibiotics - either oral or topical - in order to help control the bacterial infection. However, other treatments will be needed, as antibiotics on its own will not clear up advanced gum disease.

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Root planing. This process will smooth down the root surfaces so they won't continue to accumulate tartar.

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Scaling. Scaling removes bacteria and tartar from the tooth surfaces under the gums.

Treating Advanced Gum Disease with Surgery

If your advanced gum disease doesn't respond to less aggressive treatment methods, you may need to pursue one of these surgical procedures:

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Gum grafting. When gum tissue is lost as a result of gum disease, the gum line will recede, and grafting can help to reinforce the damaged area.

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Pocket reduction. This procedure lifts back the gum tissue so that scaling and root planing can be completed more effectively.

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Guided tissue regeneration. This surgical produced allows you to regrow bone that was destroyed by bacteria through the use of biocompatible fabric placed between the tooth and bone.

If you suspect that you might have gum disease, it is important that you contact our office, who may refer you to a gum specialist or a periodontist. You can then discuss which treatment option is right for you.